Author: Nicole Biton, Jeremy Candelas & Alison Spandorfer
It’s International Women’s Day, which means it’s time to celebrate all the amazing women who inspire us, both in culture and in our daily lives. From science and politics, to entertainment and civil issues, there is no shortage of incredible contributions that women have made to our society. So while you’re making use of the IWD Snapchat filter, here’s a list of 11 inspiring women you should celebrate today:
1. President Garrett
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As the first female president of Cornell, President Garrett’s legacy will always remain on our campus. Her leadership benefited all students: whether she was fighting food insecurity or searching for an answer to our lack of housing on campus. She had a beyond successful career, accomplishing so much even though her time was short. She was and is the “quintessential” Cornell role model, and we miss her already.
2. Beyonce
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OBVIOUSLY. Queen Bey is an absolutely iconic figure empowering women to be their best selves.
3. Amy Schumer
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This has been the year of Amy Schumer.. First, she wrote and starred in the Golden Globe-nominated film Trainwreck. Then, her “Comedy Central” series Inside Amy Schumer was honored with a Peabody Award for its “admirably feminist dedication to challenging and disrupting gendered expectations of women’s behavior.” On top of all that, her HBO Special “Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo” just released to insane critical acclaim. Wow.
4. Hillary Clinton
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Regardless of your political views, anyone can admit that Hillary Clinton has had an accomplished career. From lawyer to First Lady, Hillary Clinton fully emerged herself in the political realm as the Senator of New York, eventually being named as President Obama’s Secretary of State. Now she’s set her sights on returning to the White House, this time not as First Lady, but as President herself.
5. Lady Gaga
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Gaga has come a long way from her pop star days. She just won a Golden Globe for her killer acting performance in American Horror Story: Hotel and completely SLAYED this year’s Oscars with her performance dedicated to victims of sexual assault. Needless to say, we’re GAGA over her.
6. Laverne Cox
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Not only does she slay in “Orange is the New Black,” but she is an active voice in supporting the LGBTQI community. Last fall, Cox blessed our campus with her presence, leaving students in awe of her success, confidence, and poise.
7. Oprah
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The “Queen of all Media,” Oprah Winfrey, has established a respectable brand and media presence with the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Through her brand, Oprah quickly became a household name. Outside of her media career, Oprah is also a well-known philanthropist, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to educational causes.
8. Emma Watson
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Most well-known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter universe, Watson has since turned her sights to activism efforts. Most recently, Watson has made a push for women’s rights, even being appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and delivering a speech for HeForShe at the UN Headquarters. Did we mention that she is also an Ivy League graduate?
9. Tina Fey
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Did you know that the name ‘Tina’ comes from Fey’s middle name, Stamatina? That’s probably one of the few things that you haven’t already heard about this universally acclaimed actress, comedian, writer, producer–does this list ever end? And don’t even get us started on all of the awards she’s won for her all of her work.
10. Julia Louis-Dreyfus
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You might know her only as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld, but JLD is so much more than that. This funny lady has most recently received acclaim for her role on the HBO series Veep, where she plays Selina Meyer, the cunning and hilarious VP of the United States. If only she could bring her skills to the Oval Office in real life…(sorry, Hillz).
11. Malala Yousafzai
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Perhaps one of the most inspiring women on our list, Malala Yousafzai had already made a impact when she challenged cultural norms to demand equal opportunities for girls’ education in Pakistan. Despite an attempted assassination by the Taliban at just age 15, Malala came back fighting for women just as hard as ever, going on to become the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.
These women are just a few testaments to the amazing things women have done and have the ability to do. So today and everyday, take a moment to celebrate the amazing women in your life and ladies, be proud of who you are!
